Government Affairs & Advocacy Updates
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| ASSP Supports Strong Federal Funding for OSHA & NIOSH to Advance Worker Safety |
| ASSP, along with other leading safety and health organizations, has urged Congress to support strong FY 2026 funding for OSHA and NIOSH. Sustained investment helps maintain the research, compliance assistance and safety infrastructure needed to prevent injuries and fatalities. |
Advisory Group Updates
Our Advisory Group has direct input and communication with the Board of Directors. The group informs board decisions and communicates member needs, concerns and suggestions to the board.
October 2026 Government Affairs Updates
| October 2026 ASSP supports evidence-based policy decisions and engages with policymakers to ensure our members’ voices are part of important deliberations. ASSP also supports efforts to grow public awareness of environmental health and safety. |
| TOP STORIES |
| OSHA Updates Its Preliminary Top 10 Most-Cited Standards OSHA has released its preliminary list of the most frequently cited federal workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2026. Fall protection remains at the top, followed by hazard communication and lockout/tagout. The list highlights commonly cited hazards that safety professionals can review in their own workplaces. |
| OSHA Renews Its Focus on Warehousing and Distribution: What Safety Professionals Need to Know OSHA has renewed its National Emphasis Program on warehousing and distribution center operations. The program targets hazards including powered industrial trucks, material handling, falls, heat and ergonomic risks. |
| New Research Finds AI Adoption Accelerating in Workplace Safety A new ASSP report examines how safety professionals are adopting artificial intelligence and the challenges organizations face as they integrate AI into EHS operations. Based on a survey of nearly 1,000 safety professionals, the findings highlight adoption trends and concerns involving data quality, resource constraints, trust and privacy. |
| GAO Calls for Better Data and Enforcement to Protect Young Workers A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report identifies gaps in federal data on young workers’ injuries, illnesses and fatalities. GAO recommends that the Department of Labor improve data collection, investigative strategies and coordination with other federal agencies to better protect working children. |
| OSHA Releases Guidance on Workplace Opioid Overdose Response OSHA has released a fact sheet to help employers and workers prepare for and respond to opioid overdoses in the workplace. The guidance covers recognizing overdose symptoms, using overdose reversal medications and emergency response. |
| ADVOCACY UPDATES |
| ASSP Joins OSHA and Safety Organizations in New SIF Prevention Alliance ASSP has joined OSHA and other safety and health organizations in a new alliance focused on preventing SIFs. Participants will collaborate on prevention principles, practical resources, education and the sharing of research and effective practices. |
| ASSP Submits Supplemental Comments on OSHA Fixed-Ladder Proposal Following OSHA’s August hearing on proposed changes to the Walking-Working Surfaces standard, ASSP submitted supplemental comments addressing questions raised during the hearing. ASSP will continue to follow the rulemaking and share updates as it progresses. |
| ASSP SIF Prevention Convening Focuses on Hazardous Energy Control ASSP’s most recent SIF Prevention Convening brought safety professionals and industry stakeholders together to explore ways to strengthen hazardous energy control. The discussion builds on ASSP’s ongoing efforts to address SIF risks through practical, standards-based approaches. ASSP will share additional insights as this work progresses. |
| MSHA Reopens Comment Period on Respirators in Underground Mines The Mine Safety and Health Administration has reopened the comment period on a proposed rule addressing powered air-purifying respirators in underground mines. MSHA will hold a virtual public hearing on Nov. 17 and accept written comments through Dec. 8. |
| NIOSH and Partners Recognize Prevention Through Design in Practice NIOSH, ASSP and partner organizations have recognized Square Robot, Inc with the 2026 Prevention through Design Award for technology that allows above-ground storage tanks to be inspected without workers entering confined spaces. Nominations for the 2027 award are due March 1, 2027. |
| Purdue Students and ASSP Volunteers Help Two Lafayette Nonprofits Through S4NP Safety for NonProfits (S4NP) volunteers recently partnered with Purdue University graduate students to provide pro bono safety services to two nonprofit organizations in Lafayette, Indiana. The projects show how safety professionals and students can help nonprofits identify hazards and strengthen workplace safety. |
| OTHER NEWS |
| Voluntary consensus standards provide industry-leading guidance on hazard prevention, risk management and best practices — especially in areas where regulations may not exist. Stay informed on the latest developments shaping the profession. Turning Safety Standards Into Practical Workplace Guidance ASSP’s Standards-Based User Groups are working to bridge the gap between written standards and workplace implementation. A new article explores how practical guides, checklists and other tools can help safety professionals put standards into practice. |
| PHMSA Updates Standards for Certain Hazardous-Materials Transport Tanks The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has finalized a rule incorporating specified editions of ASME and National Board codes into federal hazardous-materials transportation regulations. The rule updates the codes that may be used for certain transport tanks and their continued service. |